Metallic collapsible tubes having



March 10, 1964 F. REMINGTON ETAL METALLIC COLLAPSIBLE TUBES HAVING PLASTIC NECKS Filed Dec. 19

ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,124,273 METALLKC (IQLLAPSEELE TUBES HAVING PLASTIC NECKS Frederic Remington, Elizabeth, and Richard A. Tartaglia,

East Orange, Ni, assignors to Peerless Tube Company,

Bloomfield, N.J., a corporation of New Jersey Filed Dec. 19, 1962, Ser. No. 245,762 16 Claims. (Cl. 22292) This application is a continuation-in-part of our colignding application Serial No. 148,932 filed October 31,

Collapsible tubes formed of metal such as aluminum and having separate necks formed of a synthetic plastic composition such as polyethylene, have been proposed. The metallic tube has an integral neck through which the contents of the tube is discharged, and the plastic neck is mechanically applied to the exterior of the metal neck so as to cover or sheathe the exterior periphery and the end surface of the metal neck. One known collapsible tube of this character has the plastic neck molded around the metal neck, while another tube of the same general nature has the end of the metal neck upset or flared over an internal shoulder on the plastic neck.

A primary object of the present invention is to provide a metal tube having a metal neck and a plastic neck applied to the neck of the metal tube in a novel and improved and relatively inexpensive manner.

Another object is to provide such a combination of a metal neck and plastic neck wherein the plastic neck can be applied to the metal neck simply by pushing the plastic neck longitudinally onto the metal neck and causing automatically an interlocking of the plastic neck with the etal neck.

Further objects of the invention are to provide a novel and improved construction and combination of a metal tube neck and a plastic neck wherein the possibility of leakage of the tube contents between the metal neck and the plastic neck shall be reduced to the minimum; and to provide such a combination wherein the plastic neck possesses inherent resiliency and elasticity and with the addition of a relatively rigid cap that is screwed onto the neck to provide a liquid-tight joint without a packing disc.

Other objects, advantages and results of the invention will be brought out by the following description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which FIGURE 1 is a composite side elevation and axial sectional vi w of a metal collapsible tube, a plastic neck and a cap;

FIGURE 2 is a side elevation of a portion of the tube and its metal neck before application thereto of the plastic neck;

FIGURE 3 is a top plan view of the tube and neck shown in FIGURE 2; and

FIGURE 4 is a composite side elevation and axial sectional view of the plastic neck before application thereof to t e tube neck.

Specifically describing the illustrated embodiment of the invention, the reference character A designates a body of a metal collapsible tube that has a frusto-conical shoulder B as usual from which integrally projects a neck C that has a passage 1 therethrough for discharge of the contents of the tube. Secured to the metal neck C is a plastic neck D to which is removably applied as by mating screw threads on the neck and cap indicated at E, a closure cap F for normally closing the discharge passage 1.

The tube is shown having a frusto-conical surface 2 at the juncture of the neck C with the shoulder B, with the end of the surface of smaller diameter at the juncture of the metal neck and the shoulder as indicated at 3. A second frusto-conical surface 4 has its end of larger diameter equal in diameter to and merging with the larger end "ice of the surface 2 and facing away from the shoulder B of the tube, thereby providing an undercut shoulder or bead at the juncture of said surfaces. Extending outwardly from the surface 4 is a generally cylindrical portion 5 that terminates in a flat outer end surface 6 which is perpendicular to the axis of the neck. The cylindrical surface has a smooth coaxial cylindrical outer end portion 5a that extends from said flat outer end surface 6 to a shoulder 5b that is parallel to said surface 6; and the cylindrical surface 5 is provided with longitudinal grooves 7 spaced circumferentially of the neck and extending from said shoulder 51) to points in closely spaced relation to the smaller end of the frusto-conical surface 4 as best shown in FIGURE 2. The grooves '7 may be formed in any suitable manner but preferably are produced by the die in which the tube is extruded in the usual manner; and the frusto-conical surfaces 2 and 4 may also be produced in any suitable manner, for example, by cutting or rolling of the metal of the neck. While the angularity of the surfaces 4 and 2 may be varied, it has been found to be satisfactory to make the surface 2 at an angle of about 65 degrees to a plane that is perpendicular to the axis of the tube neck and to make the surface 4 at an angle of about 45 degrees to said plane. The surfaces 4 and 2 provide shoulders for guiding the plastic neck onto the metal neck and for holding the plastic neck firmly against being pulled longitudinally off the neck, respectively.

The plastic neck D is formed of any suitable synthetic plastic material, preferably polyethylene, and may be produced in any suitable manner as by molding. The plastic neck is generally cylindrical and tubular and provided with an opening 8 at one end of a diameter less than the other portions of the opening through the neck and also preferably of about the same diameter as the discharge passage 1 of the metal neck so as to provide an inwardly extending flange 9 to overlie and abut the end surface 6 0f the metal neck when the plastic neck is applied to the metal neck. The generally cylindrical internal surface 19 of the plastic neck has a smooth cylindrical portion ltla extending inwardly from the flange 9 and of about the same diameter and length as the cylindrical portion 5a of the plastic neck; said internal sur face also has a shoulder ltib at its inner end. The inner surface also is roughened for a portion of its length, preferably by a plurality of longitudinal ribs 11 spaced circumferentially of the neck each extending inwardly from the shoulder Iliib to mate with one of the grooves '7 of the metal neck as the plastic neck is slid longitudinally over the metal neck, whereby the mating ribs and grooves will prevent relative rotation of the plastic neck and the metal neck.

At its other end, the internal surface of the plastic neck is of a diameter slightly greater than the exterior diameter of the cylindrical portion 5 of the metal neck and is provided with an inwardly extending projection 12 and a recess 13 to coact respectively with the frustoconical surfaces 2 and 4 of the metal neck. As shown, the projection 12 is a circumferential bead while the recess 13 is a circumferential groove and the smaller diameter of the head 12 is initially less than the larger diameter of the frusto-conical surface 2 while the larger diameter of the circumferential groove 13 may approximately correspond to the larger diameter of the surface 4; and the inner end of the groove 13 intersects the internal surface Ill and said internal surface ill is of a length approximately equal to the length of the generally cylindrical portion 5 of the metal neck. The bead 12 is formed with an angular surface 14 that faces the corresponding end of the neck to facilitate application of the plastic neck to the metal neck.

The plastic neck has some inherent resiliency or elasticity, and the plastic neck is applied to the metal neck by sliding the plastic neck onto the metal neck with one of the ribs 11 of the plastic neck mated with one of the grooves 7 of the metal neck and with the smooth cylindrical portion 10a of the plastic neck snugly frictionally engaging the portion a of the metal neck and with the shoulder Sb of the metal neck preferably abutting the shoulder 16b of the plastic neck. When the surface 14 engages the frusto-conical surface 4 and pressure is applied to the outer end of the plastic neck, the plastic neck will slightly expand to permit the bead 12 to snap over the circumferential shoulder provided at the intersection of the two frusto-conical surfaces 2 and 4, whereupon the plastic neck will contract and snugly engage the surface 2 of the metal neck as best shown in FIGURE 1. Preferably the leading or inner end of the plastic neck is provided with a circumferential longitudinally extending flange 15 to abut the shoulder B of the tube, and the plastic neck is pushed onto the metal neck until the flange 9 of the plastic neck abuts the end surface 6 of the metal neck, the elasticity of the flange 15 and a slight looseness between the side of the groove 13 and the frusto-conical surface 4 permitting the plastic neck to be drawn onto the metal neck by coaction of the bead 12 of the plastic neck with the frusto-conical surface 2 of the metal neck.

As hereinabove described, the plastic neck E is formed of a synthetic plastic composition such as polyethylene or some other similar composition having resiliency and elasticity, and in accordance with the invention, the cap F is made of a relatively rigid composition such as Bakelite, urea compounds, etc., and the rigidity of the cap and the resiliency of the plastic neck serve to produce a liquid-tight contact between the closed end or bottom wall 16 of the cap and the outer end of the plastic neck and obviate the necessity for a packing disc to prevent the leakage of fluent material from the tube between the neck and the cap.

While the now preferred embodiment of the invention has been described, it will be understood that the structural details of the metal neck and plastic neck may be varied or changed and other synthetic plastic compositions than polyethylene having such properties as slight elasticity, resistance to corrosion and abrasion may be used within the spirit and scope of the invention.

We claim:

1. A collapsible tube comprising a metal body with a shoulder in one end thereof, a metal neck extending from said shoulder and having a generally cylindrical portion provided with an outer end surface in a plane perpendicular to the axis of the metal neck, and a tubular plastic neck having inherent resiliency and an internal cylindrical portion corresponding approximately in diameter to the cylindrical portion of the metal neck, said plastic neck being longitudinally slidably fitted on said metal neck, the exterior of said metal neck and the interior of said plastic neck having smooth approximately cylindrical surfaces in snug frictional contact with each other, said exterior of the metal neck and the interior of the plastic neck also having mating longitudinal grooves and ribs spaced circumferentially of the necks and longitudinally of the necks from said smooth portions to prevent relative rotation of the plastic neck and the metal neck, the external surface of the metal neck and the internal surface of the plastic neck between said shoulder and said ribs and grooves having interlocking portions for holding the plastic neck firmly against outward movement on the metal neck.

2. A collapsible tube as defined in claim 1 wherein said interlocking portions incluce an exterior circumferential bead on the metal neck and an internal projection on the plastic neck in snug contact with said head at the side thereof nearer said shoulder, and wherein said smooth cylindrical surfaces of the metal neck and the plastic neck are disposed between said end surface of the metal neck and said ribs and grooves.

3. A collapsible tube as defined in claim 1 wherein the plastic neck is formed of resilient material and with the addition of a cap formed of relatively rigid material screwed onto said plastic neck with its end wall in direct contact with the outer end of the plastic neck.

4. A collapsible tube comprising a metal body having a metal neck extending therefrom, a tubular plastic neck having inherent resiliency secured exteriorly on said metal neck, a relatively rigid cap, the interior of said cap and the exterior of said neck having mating screw threads securing the cap on said plastic neck with the bottom wall of the cap in direct contact with the outer end of the plastic neck, the resiliency of the plastic neck and the rigidity of the cap providing a yielding liquid-tight joint between said plastic neck and said cap.

5. A collapsible tube comprising a metal body with a shoulder on one end thereof, a metal neck extending from said shoulder and having a generally cylindrical portion provided with an outer end surface in a plane perpendicular to the axis of the metal neck, and a tubular plastic neck having inherent resiliency and an internal cylindrical portion corresponding approximately in diameter to the cylindrical portion of the metal neck, said plastic neck being longitudinally slidably fitted on said metal neck, the exterior of said metal neck and the interior of said plastic neck having coaxial smooth surfaces in snug frictional contact with each other, said plastic neck having an inturned flange at the outer end of said smooth internal surface in abutting overlying relation to said end surface of the metal neck, the external surface of the metal neck and the internal surface of the plastic neck having interlocking portions holding the plastic neck firmly against outward movement on the metal neck, said exterior surface of the metal neck and the interior surface of the plastic neck also having mating longitudinal ribs and grooves spaced circumferentially of the necks and disposed between said smooth portions and said interlocking portions to prevent relative rotation of the plastic neck and the metal neck.

6. A collapsible tube as defined in claim 5 wherein the said smooth coaxial surface of the metal neck and the plastic neck extend inwardly from said end surface of the metal neck to the outer ends of said ribs and grooves.

7. A collapsible tube as defined in claim 5 wherein said interlocking portions include an exterior circumferential bead on the metal neck and an internal projection on the plastic neck in snug contact with said bead at the side thereof nearer said shoulder, and wherein said smooth coaxial surfaces of the metal neck and the plastic neck extend inwardly from said end surface of the metal neck to the outer ends of said ribs and grooves.

8. A collapsible tube comprising a metal body with a shoulder in one end thereof, a metal neck extending from said shoulder and having a generally cylindrical portion provided with an outer end surface in a plane perpendicular to the axis of the metal neck, and a tubular plastic neck having inherent resiliency and an internal cylindrical portion corresponding approximately in diameter to the cylindrical portion of the metal neck, said plastic neck being longitudinally slidably fitted on said metal neck, the exterior of said metal neck and the interior of said plastic neck having smooth approximately cylindrical surfaces in snug frictional contact with each other, said exterior of the metal neck and the interior of the plastic neck also having mating longitudinal grooves and ribs spaced circumferentially of the necks and spaced longitudinally of the necks from said smooth portions to prevent relative rotation of the plastic neck and the metal neck, the external surface of the etal neck and the internal surface of the plastic neck between said shoulder and said ribs and grooves having interlocking portions for holding the plastic neck firmly against outward movement on the metal neck, said smooth cylindrical surfaces of the metal neck and the plastic neck being disposed between said end surface of the metal neck and said ribs and grooves, said plastic neck having an inturned flange at the outer end of said internal smooth cylindrical portion in abutting overlying relation to said end surface of the metal neck, said metal neck having a shoulder facing toward its outer end and said plastic neck having an internal shoulder at the inner end of said internal smooth cylindrical portion in abutting relation to said shoulder on the metal neck.

9. A collapsible tube as defined in claim 8 wherein said interlocking portions include an exterior circumferential bead on the metal neck and an internal projection on the plastic neck in snug contact with said bead at the side thereof nearer said shoulder, and wherein said smooth cylindrical surfaces of the metal neck and the plastic neck are disposed between said end surface of the metal neck and said ribs and grooves.

10. A collapsible tube comprising a metal body with a shoulder in one end thereof, a metal neck extending from said shoulder and having a generally cylindrical portion provided with an outer end surface in a plane perpendicular to the axis of the metal neck, and a tubular plastic neck having inherent resiliency and an internal cylindrical portion corresponding approximately in diameter to the cylindrical portion of the metal neck, said plastic neck being longitudinally slidably fitted on said metal neck, the exterior of said metal neck and the interior of said plastic neck having smooth approximately cylindrical surfaces in snug frictional contact with each 6 other, said exterior of the metal neck and the interior of the plastic neck also having mating longitudinal grooves and ribs circumferentially of the necks and spaced longitudinally of the necks from said smooth portions to prevent relative rotation of the plastic neck and the metal neck, the external surface of the metal neck and the internal surface of the plastic neck between said shoulder and said ribs and grooves having interlocking portions for holding the plastic neck firmly against outward movement on the metal neck, said interlocking portions including an exterior circumferential bead on the metal neck and an internal projection on the plastic neck in snug contact with said bead at the side thereof nearer said shoulder, said circumferential bead comprising two frusto-conical surfaces meeting at their ends of larger diameter and having their other ends merging into said shoulder and said cylindrical portion of the metal neck respectively, and said internal projection of the plastic neck engaging the frusto-conical surface that merges into said shoulder and the inner end of said plastic neck abutting said shoulder on the metal body.

References Qited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

1. A COLLAPSIBLE TUBE COMPRISING A METAL BODY WITH A SHOULDER IN ONE END THEREOF, A METAL NECK EXTENDING FROM SAID SHOULDER AND HAVING A GENERALLY CYLINDRICAL PORTION PROVIDED WITH AN OUTER END SURFACE IN A PLANE PERPENDICULAR TO THE AXIS OF THE METAL NECK, AND A TUBULAR PLASTIC NECK HAVING INHERENT RESILIENCY AND AN INTERNAL CYLINDRICAL PORTION CORRESPONDING APPROXIMATELY IN DIAMETER TO THE CYLINDRICAL PORTION OF THE METAL NECK, SAID PLASTIC NECK BEING LONGITUDINALLY SLIDABLY FITTED ON SAID METAL NECK, THE EXTERIOR OF SAID METAL NECK AND THE INTERIOR OF SAID PLASTIC NECK HAVING SMOOTH APPROXIMATELY CYLINDRICAL SURFACES IN SNUG FRICTONAL CONTACT WITH EACH OTHER, SAID EXTERIOR OF THE METAL NECK AND THE INTERIOR OF THE PLASTIC NECK ALSO HAVING MATING LONGITUDINAL GROOVES AND RIBS SPACED CIRCUMFERENTIALLY OF THE NECKS AND LONGITUDINALLY OF THE NECKS FROM SAID SMOOTH PORTIONS TO PREVENT RELATIVE ROTATION OF THE PLASTIC NECK AND THE METAL NECK, THE EXTERNAL SURFACE OF THE METAL NECK AND THE INTERNAL SURFACE OF THE PLASTIC NECK BETWEEN SAID SHOULDER AND SAID RIBS AND GROOVES HAVING INTERLOCKING PORTIONS FOR HOLDING THE PLASTIC NECK FIRMLY AGAINST OUTWARD MOVEMENT ON THE METAL NECK. 